Cornstalk crusher



Feb. 12, 1952 D. A. BENNETT ETAL 2,585,296

CORNSTALK CRUSHER Filed May 11, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-Sl-IEET 1 wzzenl'ors 2700222? flame)? Patented Feb. 12, 1952 2,585,296 CORNSTALK CRUSHER David A. Bennett and Roy E. Bennett,

Lenox, Iowa Application May 11, 1949, Serial No. 92,555

' 1 This invention relates to a means for crushing corn stalks left standing in a field after the ear of corn has been picked from the corn stalks and more particularly to rotating hammers which deliver an impact blow to the corn stalks to 4 Claims. (Cl. 55-418) stalk all winter and in the spring come to life again. If the corn stalks are cut into a minimum of one inch lengths, all corn borers will be cut and destroyed. It is very desirable for this reason to crush the corn stalks. Then, too, the corn stalks will disintegrate into fertilizer value quicker if they are crushed and the decomposition action can start faster. It is with the problem of crushing, shredding and decomposin corn stalks that the present invention is concerned.

It is an object of the invention, among others,

to provide a means for crushing corn stalks in a field by a wheeled crusher that is towed through the field the crusher having rotating hammer impact members contacting the corn stalks to crush and pulverize the corn stalks.

t is another object of the invention, to provide a corn .stalk crusher that is simple and rugged in construction and will withstand rugged use without breakdown; a device that has a minimum of moving parts hence very little to get out of working order; a crusher that operates over a double row where the hills extend upward into theair; and a crusher so constructed to absorb the impactblows delivered from the power means.

It is still. another object of the invention, to provide acorn stalk crusher wherein the hammer rotate in the direction of travel of the crusher instead of reversely to the direction of travel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. g

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the crusher with some parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 -3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the knocker shaft and illustrating the knockers thereon.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken 'on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

The crusher shown generally at l comprises generally a rectangular frame 2 to which a tow bar 3 is connected: The frame 2 has regular automobile wheels 5 attached thereto to make the crusher mobile when a tractor (not shown) is connected to the tow bar 3. The stub axles 5 of each wheel l (Figure 2) are connected to a side frame membar 6 forming part of the frame 2 to make the structure mobile without interfering with the operation of the crusher, rotor and blades.

As shown in Fig. 2, the side frame members 6 which carry the wheel axle 5 are pivoted as at 6a to'the outer side of the forward end of the main frame 2;. Fig.'2- also shows that frame 2 has at its rearend at each side a depending extension 29 having a lineal series of apertures 2| adapted'to selectively receive a bolt 22 of frame member 6. This arrangement enables frame 2 to be adjusted difierent distances from the ground level.

On the frame 2, extending from one side to the other side of the frame 2, is a cylinder or drum 1 journaledto rotate in the frame 2 in bearings at each opposite "side of the frame 2. A series of hammers 8 are pivotally attached at 9 to a pair of spaced ears'or prongs it, which are rigidly attached to the-drum l as by welding or the like. A hardened pin It extends through openings in the'ears and supports asleeve bushing Ila between the same, the sleeve bushing receiving the bored endof the hammer 8 whereby the same is pivoted. 7 1 I i Each end :of the drum shaft la h as-a -pulley l2 mounted thereon-whichconnect's through a V-belt l3 to pulleys M on the respective ends of the shaft is which is journaied on the forward end of the frame 2. The shaft !5 is in two pieces, having its opposite ends journaled to the frame at it and the shafts l5 connecting into a gear box ll in the center of the frame. A power takeoff l8 extending at right angles to gear-box I! extends to the tractor (not shown) to connect to the power take-off of the tractor to provide a power transmission means through the crusher to rotate the drum l. p

The hammers 8 are longitudinally spaced apart on the drum 1 andas shown-in Figure 3, there are three rows of'hammers 8 on the drum I. Each drum is rotated at an extremely high speed which develops great striking power to thehammers as they strike the corn stalks and the ground as seen in Figure '3, the drum I is long enough to accommodate a plurality of different length hammers for operation on two rows in afield. A s I the rows comprise hills and valleys thehammers are arranged upon the drum so that the longert hammers are adapted to register with the valleys, while the shorter hammers register with the hills. A shield l9 covers the hammers to prevent earth and shreds of corn stalk from being thrown around.

It is to be understood that the form of our in-v vention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the'sam'e and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention, or the scop of the subjoined claims. r

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A mobile ,cornstalk crusher adapted to be towed behind a. tractor having a powertakeofi comprising: a substantially rectangular frame; a pair of ground-engaging. supporting wheels at opposite sides thereof means connecting said wheels to said frameforrelative. vertical adjustment thereon; a tow bar secured to the front of said frame for towingconnection to the tractor; a rotatable drum mountedonsaid frame and tending from side to. sidethereof t anfi lersely therewithin in approximate alignmentwith said wheels; means for rotating said drum from the tractor power-takeoff; and. a. plurality of. rows of closely adjacent rigid. striking hammers hingedly secured to said drum for pivotal movement about axes parallel to thedrum; axis each of said rows extending from one end of said drum to the other and said h%mm ers be ingpf substantially uniform cross section throughout their entire length. g V

2. The. structure defined in claim .1 in which the. means CQnnecting the wheels, to the-frame includes rearwardly-extending yerticallyswingable bars t eac s e f aid, re eand. p v te thereto at their forward. ends laterally extendingstubaxles on said bars carr;y ingsaid wheels, and cooperating means carried in part by therear of said bars and in part by the rear ofsaid flame at each side thereof for selectively securing the 4 rear end of said bars in different vertical posltions with respect to said frame to thereby selectively vary the distance of said frame from ground level.

3. A mobile cornstalk crusher adapted to be towed behind a tractor having a power-takeotl', comprising: a substantially rectangular frame; a pair of ground-engaging supporting wheels at opposite sides thereof means connecting said Wheels to said frame for relativervertical adjustment thereon; a tow bar secured to the front of said frame for towing connection to the tractor;

a rotatable drum mounted on said frame and extending from side to side thereof transversely therewithin in approximate alignment with said wheels; means for rotating said drum from the tractor power-takeoff; and a plurality of row of closely adjacent rigid striking hammers hingedly secured. to said drum for pivotal movement about axes parallel to the drum axis, each of said rows extending spirally from one. end of said drum to the other and said, hammers being ofv substan: tially uniform cross section throughout their entire len th. r v '4. A mobile cornstalk crusher adapted to be towed behind a tractor having a power-takeoff, comprising: a substantially rectangular frame; a pair of ground-engaging supporting wheels at opposite sides thereof; means connecting said wheels to said frame for relative vertical adjustment thereon; a tow bar secured to the front of said frame for towing connection to the tractor; a rotatable drum mounted on said frame and extending from side to side thereof transversely therewithin in approximate alignment with said wheels; means for rotating said drum from the tractor power-takeoff; and a plurality of rows of closely adjacent rigid striking hammers hingedly secured to said drum for pivotal movement about axes parallel to. the drum axis, each of said rows extending from one end of said drum to the other and said hammers being of substantially uniform cross section throughout their entire length, the. hammers in certain sections of each row being shorter than those in, the next aifiacent section with the shorter hammers adapted to be aligned with the hills and the longer hammers with the valleys of a cornfield or the like.

DAVID A. BENNETT. ROY E. BENNE'I'I.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent; 

